THE New South Wales Government is seeking to extend the rules for educational development by ensuring that the current planning provisions applying to development proposals by public and private education bodies continue to apply.

Currently, both public authorities and non-government proponents are able to undertake development with consent in certain prescribed zones, such as most rural zones as well as all residential, commercial, and special purpose zones, under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007.

While this provision originally only applied to public authorities, it was expanded on a trial basis to also include non-government schools in February 2009 and is due to expire on 20 February 2012.

Director-General of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, Sam Haddad, said "there is a good case to continue the current provisions beyond 20 February to ensure independent schools are on an equal footing with public schools in terms of State planning provisions."

"In the last three years, no particular concerns have been raised with the way this temporary change applied to independent schools, and there is support for its continuation," Mr Haddad added.

The Department is publicly exhibiting a draft State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) amendment to extend the current planning provisions and is seeking feedback.

More information regarding the amendment, as well as an explanation of its intended effect, is available from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure's website at <http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/>. Comments and submissions must be lodged by Wednesday 8 February 2012.